Shipping container



July 9, 1929. c. e. LEIGH SHIPPING CONTAINER med April 12, 1926 Patented July 9, 19219.

UNITED STATES CARL G. LEIGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASS

IGINOR TU LEIGH BANANA CASE COMPAIN'Y,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

SHIPPING GUNTAINER.

Application filed April 12,

My invention relates to improvements in wooden containers for use in shipping and storing fruits and vegetables, and has particular reference to the construction of the bottom portion of these containers.

The general object of the present invention is to cheapen the manufacture of wooden shipping containers and to increase their durability by providing a new and improved bottom construction.

Usually shipping containers comprise a plurality of thin body slats built around a rigid bottom board and secured together by hoops. It has been the practice heretofore to make the bottom boards of relatively thick stock and in shapes where there is considerable waste. To reduce their cost, the boards are often made of green or improperly seasoned wood which shrinks and becomes distorted making it diliicult to assemble the baskets. Furthermore, such boards are apt to become dislocated during shipment and handling. The latter difi'iculty has been experienced especially with containers in which the bottom board is supported in he body of the contain or by the inner bottom hoop and tacked to the body in only a few places.

Stated more specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a container having a rigid board closing one end and a novel means for fastening the board within the body of the container which permits the use of relatively thin bottom boards which may be formed from scrap material such as the thin veneercut strips which are left over in cutting the side slats for the container. Such material being properly seasoned will not shrink or become distorted.

in carrying out the above objects, 1 provide a wooden container having body slats secured between inner and outer bottom hoops and a novel bottom board made of thin. veneer-cut strips laminated together and held in the body upon the inner hoop by metal fastening devices which are fixed to the bottom board and bent around one of the bottom hoops.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followin detailed description taken in connection with the acconilpanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of a basket embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

1926. Serial N'O. 101,235.

Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the bottom board.

lVhile l have shown in the drawings and will herein describe the preferred form of the invention it is to be understood that I do not intend thereby to be limited to such particular form but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit of the appended claims. i

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the body of the container comprises a plurality of slats of thin veneer-cut stock and is closed at the lower end by a bottom board 11. in the present instance, the lower ends of the slats 10 are secured together in spaced relation between an inner bottom hoop l2 and an outer bottom hoop 13, and their upper ends are fastened between inner and outer top hoops 14%. Any preferred number of reinforcing hoops 15 may be placed intermediate the ends of the slats.

The board 11 is made of pieces of thin veneer-cut material arranged in laminations to give the board rigidity. In the present instance, the pieces constituting the laminations are arranged in crosswise relation and are secured together by staples or nails 16. lifter the board has been forn'ied, it is cut into the desired shape. The present board is circular in form and of such diameter as to lit snugly within. the body portion of the container just above the inner bottom hoop. To hold the bottom. board securely upon the inner hoop a plurality of metal fastening de vices 17 are provided. In this instance, each device comprises an elongated ti -shaped wire. The ends of the wire extend down- "\vardly through the bottom board and along the underside thereof, thereby securely air choring the device to the board. lhe free end of each wire is bent to lie flat against the upper surface ot the bottom board, the looped portion initially projecting beyond the edge of the board (see Fig. 4).

Containers of the present type are usually assembled mamially on a suitable forming mandrel. In the assembling process, the in nor bottom hoop is first formed in the usual manner. The bottom board is thenv placed in position against the hoop, and the fastening devices are bent downwardly along the outer surface of the hoop. Next, the side slats are placed in position about the mandrel, and the lower end of each is nailed to the inner bottom hoop. The outer bottom hoop, the top hoop and the reinforcing hoops are now nailed in place, and the fastening devices are then bent around the inner hoop and upwardly on the inner side thereof as shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed that in the present container the weight of the contents of the container upon the bottom board will be sustained by the inner bottom hoop. The fastening devices will serve to hold the board securely upon the inner hoop against outside forces tending to push it upwardly in the body portion.

It will be apparent that the bottom board which I have provided can be made by niachinery from material which has heretofore been Wasted. The cost of manufacturing of such boards is therefore materially decreased and the danger of shrinkage and warping .is done away with. Furthermore, by providing fastening devices on the bottom boards, the use of relatively thin boards in baskets of the present type is possible and assembling of the baskets is greatly facilitated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shipping container having, in combination, a body comprising a plurality of slats, means forholding said slats together, said means including inner and outer hoops securing the lower ends of said slats between them, a bottom board adapted to rest upon said inner hoop, and fastening wires anchored to and extending horizontally along the top of said board a substantial distance, then downwardly between said hoops, and then around the lower edge of one of said hoops and upwardly.

2. A shipping container having, in combination, a plurality of slats, means for securing said sla ts together to form the body of the container, said means including inner and outer hoops at the lower ends of the slats, a rigid bottom board fitting snugly within said body just above said inner hoop, and metal i fastening devices anchored in said bottom board and extending along the surface o 1 said board beyond the edge thereof and bent around said inner hoop to hold said bottom board in position.

A shipping container having. in combination, a body portion having an inner bot tom hoop, a botton'i hoard supported in said body portion by said hoop, and means for fastening said board to said hoop comprising a plurality of wires on the board each having one end extending downwardly through said board and bent reversely on the underside of the board, and having the other end projecting along the upper surface of the board beyond the edge thereof and bent around said hoop.

i. A shipping container having, in C0111 bin ation,a body portion having open ends and inner and outer hoops at one of said ends, a closure board fitting within said body portion against said inner hoop, and means for holding said board against the inner hoop coinprsinga plurality of wire. nieuihers anchored in said board and, projecting beyond the edge thereof, said projecting ends extending between said hoops and being bent around one of the hoops.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a1"- fixed my signature.

CA RL G. LETG ll. 

